Bruce Penhall (left) in 1981
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Born |
Balboa Island, U.S.A. |
May 10, 1957
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Nationality | American |
Current club information | |
Career status | Retired |
Career history | |
1978-1982 | Cradley Heath Heathens |
Individual honours | |
1981, 1982 | World Champion |
1980, 1981 | USA National Champion |
1981 | Intercontinental Champion |
1978 | Skol Masters |
Team honours | |
1981 | World Pairs Champion |
1982 | World Team Cup winner |
1981 | British League Champion |
1979, 1980, 1982 | British League Knockout Cup |
1978 | British League Pairs Champion |
Bruce Lee Penhall (born May 10, 1957 in Balboa, California, U.S.) is an American former motorcycle speedway racer who also starred in television and in film. He was the World Speedway Champion in 1981 and 1982 and rode for the successful Cradley Heath Heathens speedway team in the United Kingdom. He retired from speedway racing the night he won his second World Championship in 1982 in front of his home crowd at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
In his relatively short career Bruce Penhall appeared in 7 World Finals in all speedway competitions including the riding for the United States in the World Pairs Championship and the World Team Cup. He would win 4 World Championships in total, adding the 1981 World Pairs and 1982 World Team Cup to his individual titles.
Bruce first rode Speedway when he was 16 at Irwindale Raceway on the American west-coast. From novice status, he quickly established himself in the US National Championships, twice finishing in the top three positions. In 1976 he toured Israel and in 1977 Australia and New Zealand, before being lured to Cradley Heath Heathens in 1978 by Dan McCormick and Derek Pugh.